Production

Malathi Iyengar - Artistic Director & Choreographer

Lakshmi Iyengar - Artistic Director & Lighting Designer

Suresh Iyengar - Sculptor & Visual Artist

Suresh Iyengar was born in Dharwar, India, to a family of artists. He is a sculptor, painter, float builder, and a craftsman. Having been a visual artist since childhood, he has enhanced his skills by attending sculpture workshops in Pietrasanta, Italy, Cambria, and Los Angeles.

Suresh has been a sculptor and a contributing float-building artist for the City of Burbank Rose Bowl Float since 2004. He has won numerous awards and recognitions from the City of Burbank for his sculptures and artwork. His art works have been a part of Rangoli Dance Company performances and other site-specific concerts, museums, events, installations, and weddings all over California. His sculptures and paintings are also part of a private collection. Suresh has received multiple nominations for outstanding achievement in set design by the Los Angeles based Lester Horton Dance Award Committee. He is the recipient of the ‘Kannada Kala Bhushana Award ’ by the Karnataka Cultural Association, Los Angeles in 1999.

In addition to being an artist and a dentist by profession, Iyengar has been an avid jogger and a marathon runner from 1976 – 2013. He has completed several Marathons all over the United States and abroad. The list includes prestigious Marathons such as The Boston 100th Marathon, Paris, London, Munich, Chicago, Portland, St Louis, Honolulu, Big Sur, San Diego, Carlsbad, and Los Angeles. His best time in completing a marathon was 3:17 at the Carlsbad Marathon in 1996.

Ashley Starkey - Artist & Production Assistant

Ashley, a southern California native, is an aspiring designer and a talented artist. She graduated from CSU Channel Islands with a degree in Fine Art and a Certificate in Digital Media.

Ashley joined Rangoli Dance Company in 2012 and works on publicity related graphic design and visual media. She also works closely with artistic director Malathi Iyengar on all production related activities.

In her spare time, she loves to dance, knit, and work on variety of craft projects including making stuffed animals.

Christopher Taylor - Writer

Christopher Taylor has extensive experience in both theater and in office administration. He received his BFA from Grinnell College in Iowa, majoring in Theater.  He then continued his acting training for four more years at The Juilliard School, graduating in 1990. Writing projects have included short stories, an extensive adaptation of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operetta “The Grand Duke,” a TV-pilot entitled “Kasanova” developed with Reddy-Or-Not Productions, and currently a one-man show, “Let There Be Rum (A Rum Show).” Working experience in office administration for 16 years has included the New York Academy of Medicine Library, NYU, the University of Minnesota, Oasis Theater Company and as Administrative Associate at Rangoli Dance Company.